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McClellan: Jones not as beloved as most Hall of Famers

Kathy McClellan, TRN Sports
Published 6:53 p.m. CT July 31, 2017

FILE - In this Aug. 18, 2012, file photo, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, accompanied by his wife, Gene, talks with San Diego Chargers coach Norv Turner before an NFL preseason football game in San Diego. Gene Jones will present her husband for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.(Photo: Denis Poroy, AP)

Of the 15 Cowboy Hall of Famers, I believe all but one are beloved by all true Dallas fans, and that one is the newest one – Jones.

True Cowboys fans either like or dislike Jones. There is no middle ground. And, if a poll was taken I’m pretty sure "dislike" would have the majority of the votes.

I, for one, would be in the "like" camp. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve disagreed with some things Jones has done or said many times since he bought the team in 1989, but I still believe he has been good for the Cowboys and the NFL.

In fact, his selection into the HOF has a lot to do with everything he has done for the NFL as a whole.

The dislike of Jones goes all the way back to 1989 and the firing of Landry. I agree it could have been handled better. However, most of those fans so up in arms about the firing were the same ones who, months earlier, were saying the game had past Landry by and it was time for him to go after the Cowboys went 7-9 in 1986, 7-8 in 1987 and 3-13 in 1988.

Landry wasn’t going to retire or step down on his own. He wanted to prove he could turn the team around again. As much as I loved and admired Landry and hated how the firing went down, I don’t believe Landry could have turned the team around. A new coach with a new vision was needed, as was a quick, yet painful, end to the Landry era.

Without Jones as the owner, I don’t believe the Cowboys would have won Super Bowls following the 1992, 1993 and 1995 seasons. That goes back to my belief that Bum Bright, the owner of the team prior to Jones, would have never fired Landry, and I’m not sure any other new owner would have either.

But, at the same time, I think Jones’ ego and mouth cost the Cowboys at least one or two more Super Bowl victories. If Jimmy Johnson had stayed as the head coach, I truly believe the Cowboys would have won four or more consecutive Super Bowl titles. However, I don’t think the breakup between the two college pals was entirely Jones’ fault. Johnson had a pretty big ego as well.

Jones has made his fair share of mistakes and a big one was taking over the general manager/player personnel duties after Johnson’s departure. For about a 10-year period Jones ran the whole show, and over the last seven years of that period Dallas had a winning percentage of around .410, made two playoff appearances and didn’t win a playoff game.

But, one thing Jones does is learn from his mistakes. He brought in Bill Parcells and gave up some of his control. Jones has continued to give up some control over the last few years, as his son, Stephen Jones, has become more involved in the major decisions. And Will McClay has been a key figure in player personnel decisions, even though he doesn’t have the official title of GM.

Jerry Jones said on the eve of the opening of training camp that Elliott’s case was “not even an issue over he said-she said.”(Photo: The Associated Press)

In a radio interview I heard recently. Jones described himself as a “walk-on” owner. He said just like a player trying to walk on and make the team in college is somewhat of an outsider and has to prove himself every day, he felt like an outsider and an owner who had to prove himself every day when he joined the NFL.

Owning the Cowboys has always been a family business for Jones. A family business when it comes to bringing in his children to work in the business, and also a family business when it comes to how Jones treats the players, coaches and all of the staff.

Almost everyone who has played or worked for the Cowboys since Jones took over, whether they agreed with all of his decisions or not, will talk about how he stands by people and how he becomes almost a father figure to some.

Congratulations Jerry Jones on your upcoming induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. You’re Hall of Fame-worthy in my book.